Tips for Selecting the Best Gel For Your Application

You have determined that electrophoresis is the next step in your experiment. With so many variables to consider before picking the gels, how do you know what the best gel is for your application? Here is an easy guide that takes you step by step through your selection process.

• Nucleic Acid Analysis

   
   
  
  • ReadyAgarose TAE and TBE Gels
  • Mini-PROTEAN TBE and TBE-Urea Gels
  • Criterion TBE Gels and Criterion TBE-Urea Gels

• Protein Analysis (SDS-Page)

   
   

• Isoelectric Separation

   
   
  
  • Ready Gel IEF Gels
  • Criterion IEF Gels

•  

  Target Protein
  Size <15 kD

   
   
  
  • Mini-PROTEAN Tris/Tricine Gels
  • Criterion Tris-Tricine Gels
•  

  Target Protein
  Size 10–250 kD

   
   
  
  • Criterion XT Bis-Tris Gels
  • Mini-PROTEAN TGX Gels
   
   
•  

  Target Protein
  Size >250 kD

   
   
  
  • Criterion XT Tris-Acetate Gels

•  

  Sample buffer with high salt and high
  nonionic detergent concentration*

   
   
   
  

  • Bis-Tris Gels
    (MOPS, MES Buffer)

    *Buffer exchange or dialysis can reduce salt and ionic detergents and lets the sample be run on TGX Gels

   
   

  WHAT'S THE BEST PERCENTAGE
  GEL FOR YOUR APPLICATION?

  •  
     

    Resolution of proteins <50 kD

    • 

      12–200 kD
      (10%)

    • 

      1–30 kD
      (12%)

    • 

      2.5–200 kD
      (4–12%)

    (MES Buffer)
     
     
  •  
     

    Resolution of proteins >50 kD

    • 

      14–220 kD
      (10%)

    • 

      10–300 kD
      (4–12%)

    • 

      6–66 kD
      (12%)

    (MOPS Buffer)
     
     

  HOW MANY SAMPLES DO YOU WANT TO RUN?

  •  

    5–12 Samples

  •  

    More than 12 samples

  • 

    Use Midi-Format Gels

    Criterion Gels

  • 

    Use Midi-Format Gels

    Criterion Gels

  Available Well Volumes:
  12+2 wells:	45 µl
  18 wells:	30 µl
  26 wells:	15 µl

•  

  Sample buffer with low salt
  and low nonionic detergents

   
   
   
  

  • Mini-PROTEAN TGX Gels
  • Mini-PROTEAN TGX Stain-Free Gels
    (Laemmli/Tris/Glycine SDS)
  • • Faster run times
    • Better transfer efficiency
   
   

  WHAT'S THE BEST PERCENTAGE
  GEL FOR YOUR APPLICATION?

  •  
     

    Size range between
    proteins is narrow

    • 

      40–200 kD
      (7.5%)

    • 

      30–150 kD
      (10%)

    • 

      20–120 kD
      (12%)

    Single Percentage Gels
     
     
  •  
     

    Size range between
    proteins is broad

    • 

      10–200 kD
      (4–20%)

    • 

      10–100 kD
      (Any kD)

    • 

      20–250 kD
      (4–15%)

    Gradient Gels
     
     

  HOW MANY SAMPLES DO YOU WANT TO RUN?

  •  

    5–12 Samples

  •  

    More than 12 samples

  • 

    Use Mini-Format Gels
    Mini-PROTEAN TGX Precast Gels

  • 

    Use Midi-Format Gels
    Criterion TGX Precast Gels

  Available Well Volumes:
  10 wells:	50 µl/30 µl
  12 wells:	20 µl
  15 wells:	15 µl

  Available Well Volumes:
  12+2 wells:	45 µl
  18 wells:	30 µl
  26 wells:	15 µl